Ornamental sweetpotato plant named &#39;la17-54&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of sweetpotato, identified as ‘LA17-54’, is disclosed having disease resistance to Fusarium wilt; an orange flesh, red-copper skin storage root and attractive purple, red-hued and green leaves with purple venation and purple vines

Genus and species name: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Variety denomination: ‘LA17-54’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sweetpotatoes, unlike Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), are not tuberpropagated plants. A “tuber” is a short, thickened portion of anunderground branch. Along a tuber “eyes” are found, each of whichcomprises a ridge bearing a scale-like leaf (analogous to a branch leaf)having minute meristematic buds in the axial of the leaf. By contrast,sweetpotato roots are developmentally and anatomically true roots,lacking meristematic buds, and are not derived from an undergroundbranch. Sweetpotatoes do not form tubers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a new and distinct variety of sweetpotato.This new and distinct sweetpotato variety demonstrates superior diseaseresistance to Fusarium wilt and exhibits a storage root with orangeflesh and has ornamental characteristics for foliage. It alsodemonstrates dark purple, red hued and green leaves in comparison to‘05-111’ with green leaves.

This new and distinct sweetpotato variety is characterized by a storageroot with orange flesh, red-copper skin and purple, red-hued and greenleaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of the fleshy root form of the novelvariety of sweetpotato identified as ‘LA17-54’.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of the fleshy root form of the sweetpotatovariety identified as ‘05-111’.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the canopy biomass of the novel varietyof sweetpotato identified as ‘LA17-54’ with card stating ‘17-54’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This new variety of sweetpotato, named ‘LA17-54’, resulted from an openpollinated cross performed in 2016 to the female parent ‘LA16-82’ (notpatented). The female parent ‘LA16-82’ has dark green foliage but notpurple. ‘LA16-54’ was developed to provide a variety with storage rootcharacteristics similar to ‘05-111’ (U.S. Plant Pat. 23,761 P3) andattractive foliage for ornamental use.

Plants of ‘LA17-54’ and variety ‘05-111’ can be differentiated. Manyleaves of ‘LA17-54’ are entire and purple [7.5 P (purple) (2/2)] and‘05-111’ has an entire green leaf. Roots of ‘LA17-54’ are red-copperskin [7.5 Y (yellow) R (red) (7/10)] and can be differentiated from thelight to medium rose skin of ‘05-111’. Color terminology used herein isin accordance with the MUNSELL® Book of Color (2003 Edition, MunsellColor, GretagMacbeth LLC, 617 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, N.Y.12553-6148). The color descriptions and color illustrations are asnearly true as is reasonably possible. However, it is understood thatboth color and other phenotypic expressions described herein may varyfrom plant to plant with differences in growth, environment and culturalconditions, without any change in the genotype of the variety ‘LA17-54’.

‘LA17-54’ roots were stored during the winter in Chase, La. ‘LA17-54’was planted the following spring, resulting in approximately 8-10sprouts per root. Cuttings from the sprouts were transplantedsuccessfully for asexual reproduction in Chase, La. Asexual propagationof the new cultivar by cuttings has shown that the unique features ofthis new sweetpotato were stable and that the plant reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation. Plants describedherein were 90 days in age from planting in full sun field plantings.

FIG. 1 depicts the fleshy root form of the ‘LA17-54’ sweetpotato. Theskin is a red-copper and differs from the light to medium rose ‘05-111’,both at harvest and after several months of storage as shown in Table 1.No eyes or longitudinal grooving is present. MUNSELL® Book of Colorvalues for skin and flesh for both ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ storage rootsare shown in Table 1. The ‘05-111’ sweetpotato is depicted in FIG. 2.The skin for both ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ was smooth. The ‘LA17-54’cortex was 3 mm in depth and the color similar throughout. The flesh of‘LA17-54’ is orange and comparable to orange flesh ‘05-111’.

TABLE 1 Variable Variety Color Skin ‘LA17-54’ 7.5 (yellow) R (red) 7/10‘05-111’ 2.5 Y (yellow) R (red) 6/6 Flesh ‘LA17-54’ 5 Y (yellow) R (red)7/10 ‘05-111’ 2.5 Y (yellow) R (red) 7/8

FIG. 3 depicts the canopy biomass of ‘LA17-54’ sweetpotato. ‘LA17-54’has round, green-stemmed vines which change quickly from a green apex[2.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (4/6)] to purple vines [2.5 R (red) P (purple)(2/6)] 0.6 cm from the apex and extends to the crown of the roots. Theapex has weak purple [10 P (purple) (3/6)] undertones. The first 4 cmfrom the apex is weakly pubescence before becoming glabrous. The‘LA17-54’ canopy biomass appears to be reduced in comparison to‘05-111’. The ‘LA17-54’ canopy architecture was 16 cm in height from thesoil surface and semi-upright. For ‘LA17-54’, five main vines arose fromthe main stem near the soil surface. The stem giving rise to these vineswas 0.12 cm in diameter; the 5 lateral vines were 76 cm in length withdiameters of about 0.6 cm at 65 cm from the base and diameters of about0.5 cm at the first internode of the first fully developed leaf from theapex. The spread is less than ‘05-111’ and semi-compact. Four lateralbranches arose from each of the main vines. At the first internode fromthe apex, the internode length was about 1.2 cm between the first andsecond fully developed leaves. Internode lengths for other sections ofthe vine averaged about 2.2 cm. Unfolded immature leaves and newly openleaves were light green [2.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (4/6)] for the adaxialand abaxial surface, which change over three nodes from the apex for theadaxial surface to a dark purple [2.5 R (red) P (purple) (2/2)] and adark purple abaxial surface [2.5 P (purple) 2/2]. Mature older leavesare dark purple [7.5 P (purple) (2/2)] for the adaxial surface andpurple for the abaxial surface [7.5 R (red) P (purple) (3/4)]. Olderleaves have faded purple and take on a red hue [10 R (red) P (purple)(2/6)]. Other leaves become green [7.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (3/6)]. Amix of leaf colors add to ornamental characteristics of ‘LA17-54’.Mature leaves five nodes from the apex had an acute apex and mostly acordate base and entire leaf. Leaf margins are entire. Leaves areundulating, slightly wrinkled and have weak rugose texture on adaxialand abaxial surface. Mature leaves were about 6.0 cm long and 7.9 cmwide. Adaxial and abaxial veins were in a pinnate venation pattern andvery large purple [7.5 P (purple) (2/2)] coloration. The petiole waspurple [2.5 R (red) P (purple) (2/6)]. The coloration extended from theleaf veins to the petiole in a continuous fashion. The petiole was 7.5cm long at five nodes from the apex, and 2 mm in diameter at 5 cm fromthe leaf junction. The dormant nodal meristem was purple [2.5 R (red) P(purple) (2/6)].

A typical inflorescence of ‘LA17-54’ displayed two clusters of sixflowers per peduncle. Peduncles were purple [5 P (purple) (2/4)], about15 cm long, and about 3.4 mm in diameter. Individual flowers were about3.5 cm long from the base of the calyx, and the corolla was 4.2 cm wideat the opening. The fused flower petals formed a pentagonal pattern withsmooth edges. The inner throat of the corolla is purple [5 P (purple)(3/6)]. The inner and outer limbs of the corolla (corollas outermostarea, distal from the calyx) were light purple [10 P (purple) (6/4)].The five sepals comprising the calyx were elliptic with a cordate apexand purple [10 P (purple) (6/4)]; three of these sepals were about 12.5mm long and 6.0 mm wide. Two other sepals (interspersed) were about 9 mmlong and 3.5 mm wide. Sepal margins were entire. Stigmata were about 1.7cm long and light purple [10 P (purple) (8/4)] at the base beforefading. Three stamens were inferior to the stigmata and 2 were superiorto the stigmata. A slight fragrance was present. Mature seed capsulesare round and 6.0-6.2 mm in length and width, and seeds are 3.5 mmround. One black [neutral 1.75] seed is produced on average per capsule.

EXAMPLE 1 Tests Conducted

To confirm that ‘LA17-54’ was a new ornamental variety with storageroots, controlled tests (e.g., pathogen responses and yield) wereconducted in Baton Rouge, La. ‘05-111’ was selected for comparisonbecause of its importance in commercial United States orange fleshsweetpotato acreage. Diseases that commonly affect the growth ofsweetpotatoes were selected to test for pathogen responses in bothvarieties. ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ were resistant to Fusarium wilt orstem rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlect. f sp. batatas (Wollenw.)Snyd. & Hans.

Nematode reproduction was measured in greenhouse tests. ‘LA17-54’ and‘05-111’ were susceptible to race 3 of the southern root-knot nematodeMeloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White 1919) Chitwood 1949.

Storage roots have a storage life similar to ‘05-111’. There are no dataon shipping or storage root market use.

‘LA17-54’ is drought and heat tolerant like ‘05-111’ and succumbs todeath at freezing like ‘05-111’.

‘LA17-54’ has not been tested for novel insect resistance.

To determine yield production, a complete-block trial using threereplications of ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ was conducted in 2018 inLouisiana. ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ sweetpotato plants were transplantedin randomized complete-block trials at 31 cm spacings. Each block/plotwas fertilized with approximately 250 pounds per acre of a mixedfertilizer comprising 13% N, 13% P₂O₅, and 13% K₂O. ‘LA17-54’ wascompared to ‘05-111’ at a transplanting date in June. Average yieldswere measured for the following grades of roots: U.S. #1 (51-89 mm indiameter, 76-229 mm long); Canner (25-51 mm in diameter, 51-178 mmlong); and Jumbo (larger than U.S. #1 in diameter, length or both, andwithout objectionable defects). A typical marketable root of ‘LA17-54’was 180-190 mm long, 60-70 mm in diameter; mostly irregular and slightlyelongate in shape. The base or distal end tended to be more elongated incomparison to slightly rounder apex (proximal end). U.S. #1 rootstypically weighed 150-190 g.

A mid-season transplanting date trial was conducted at Gilbert, La. in2018. ‘LA17-54’ and ‘05-111’ were transplanted on Jun. 19, 2018 andharvested on Oct. 19, 2018 (123 days after planting). Average yields,measured as Metric Tons per Hectare (MT·ha⁻¹), are shown for ‘LA17-54’and ‘05-111’ in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Mid-season transplant date yield trial. Selection US #1^(†)Canners† Jumbos† TMY^(‡†) ‘LA17-54’  6.35 a 11.23 a 0.00 a 17.57 a‘05-111’ 10.98 a 11.23 a 0.00 a 22.21 a ^(†)Average yields in MT · ha⁻¹of varieties followed by a common letter do not differ significantly (P< 0.05) according to Duncan's Multiple Range Test. TMV^(‡) = totalmarketable yield

As shown in Tables 2, ‘LA17-54’ was less competitive in yield incomparison to ‘05-111’ for the U.S. #1 grade and comparable for thecanner grade. ‘LA17-54’ had harvestable roots approximately 120-130 daysafter planting, which is typical development time for sweetpotatoes andcomparable to ‘05-111’. ‘LA17-54’ is intended for the ornamental market.‘LA17-54’ demonstrates fair yield in comparison to a commercialfresh-market variety.

‘LA17-54’ should be a valuable commercial ornamental sweetpotatovariety. ‘LA17-54’ has fair yield in comparison to ‘05-111’ andrepresents a unique canopy type which produces edible red-copper skin,orange flesh roots.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ipomoea batatas plant named‘LA17-54’ as described and illustrated in the specification herein.